My wife is my best manager, adviser

By Agnes E. Nantaba

Dr. Benon Mutambi is the CEO of Electricity Regulatory Authority. He spoke to Agnes E. Nantaba about his way to always emerging the best

Any three things we don’t know about you?

I cherish integrity, transparency and always want to deliver on everything I touch. I want to always emerge the best which may be the reason why some people say I am a perfectionist. At school I never wanted any position but the first. I always consult my wife on everything I do because she has proved to be my best manager and adviser.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Whenever I am leading an activity and it succeeds.

What is your greatest fear?

It used to be failure. I believe that if something can be done by any human being, I can also do it and it should come out the best. But I also fear falling sick because it may lead to disappointment or failure to produce results.

Which living person do you most admire?

It depends on the character.  For performance, leadership, and governance, it is Bank of Uganda Governor, Tumusiime Mutebile. For leadership it is President Yoweri Museveni.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I hardly have excess money because I invest a lot. But I would spend any amount on church and community related activities. I believe that I have an obligation to give back to God.

What is your current state of mind?

I am relaxed because I always want to have peace of mind and so avoid worries.

On what occasion do you lie?

I can only avoid someone if I don’t have an answer as opposed to lying.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My body language sometimes betrays me especially my facial expression which I hate most. It makes it hard for me to pretend.

Which living person do you most despise?

It is not necessarily despising but I cannot deal or live with a person who plays around with my psychology to fool me around.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

He should be bold to make a decision and defend it to the end and admit if it’s wrong.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

A woman should command respect.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

May be because I am so attached them, I often use God, community, and economics.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

My wife comes first because she always comes out smartly on management.

When and where were you happiest?

When I graduated with my first degree.

Which talent would you most like to have?

If I could be better on reaching out because it takes me time to reach out to someone.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My body language fails me; so if I could change it to communicate well with it.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Become the CEO of ERA and achieving the four point programme of the electricity subsector in Uganda.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I admire myself so I just love coming back the same way.

Where would you most like to live?

I am happy living in Uganda where I am closer to my community even when I can afford to stay elsewhere and earn more than I do now.

What is your most treasured possession?

Everywhere I have invested in land as an asset, I feel I have made the right decision and treasure such possessions.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Getting crippled in a wheel chair and failing to do the things you used to do is something I never wish to happen to me or the person I love. I would rather die.

What is your favorite occupation?

I admire medical doctors not for money but for their role of saving lives. It was my ambition as a child but I ended up here.

What is your most marked characteristic?

The people around, me especially my employees and workmates, say I am a perfectionist.

What do you most value in your friends?

A friend who is reliable and one who can stand by me especially in times of need.

Who are your favorite writers?

I have been absorbed in economics and use it all the time. But in leadership style, I admire John C. Maxwell for how he describes how to make a good leader.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

President Museveni.  I borrow a lot from his leadership style.

Who are your heroes in real life?

Governor Emmanuel Mutebile and President Museveni

What is it that you most dislike?

Dishonest and lazy people who don’t want to put in their best.

What is your greatest regret?

When you love yourself too much, it’s hard to regret anything. But I regret that I took the wrong investment direction in cars. I wish I had invested in land.  I would be a happier man.

How would you like to die?

I prefer to die after a signal but the sickness or suffering should not be long. I don’t like to die mysteriously.

What is your motto?

Never believe in impossibilities.